Pocket and pencil clasp



l 1,639,651 Aug.2..,1`927.` J A. EWEN POCKET AND PENCIL CLASP FiledApril 20. 1925 A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l vENToR, l y BY M s TTQRNEY.

1,639,651 Aug-23 1927' J. A. EwEN POCKET AND PENCIL CLASP 2 sheets-sheet2 Filed Api-11 V20.. 1925 Ti@ 17K47 55. INVENTOR,

nifl WI. y...

rammed Aug. 23, 1927'.

i y .rotin A. EWEN, oF BROOKLYN, NEW'YoRK.

POCKET AND PENCIL CLASP.

Application led Apr1 20,- 1925. Serial No. 24,319.

This invention relates to penV and pencil clasps.

An an improved form of clasp for receiving and retaining pens, pencils,cigars, Watches, keys and the like.

My present invention is an improvement of that of vmy applicationSerialNo. 755,149, filed by me in the U.l S. Patent O'Iiice on l0December 11th, 19211 and entitled Pocket clasp for pens and pencils.

The more preferred forms of my present invention are constructed for usein a pocket and as Well for use on a garment independently of a pocket,as for example, on ladies waists and other ladies outer Wear, in purses,

hand-bags and like containers.

In such preferred forms of my present invention, my clasp comprisesoppositely dis# posed members preferably of molded rubber or likeyieldable and adhering material providing" for one or morereceptacle-like spaces for receiving and retainingv pens, pencils oi'the like asY aforesaid. Such members are molded or otherwise `formedwith off-set portions extending` within such receptacle-like enhancingthe clasping. fengagement with the pen, pencilpor the like. In.

spaces for coaction Wth said olf-setportion or portions aol provide oneoi' more partition members,

aiso preferably of the material of the aforesaid oppositelv disposedmembers and molded unitarily therewith, said partition members sewing todivide thereceptacle-like spaces from one anotherv and to provideindividual action of the portionsv of the clasp members in 'engagementWith respective pens, pencils or the like and irrespec tive of the'thicknesses or diameters of the same.

Further features and objects of the inven- Cil ltion Will be more fullyTunderstood from .the following detail description and the accompanyingdra-Wings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, illustrat ingthe use of one preferred form of my presentinventi on applied to apocket of 'a vest, a portion of the outer material of the Vest pocketbeing broken away to bring to view otherwise hidden parts; Fig. 2 is aside elevation ofthe form of my pen and pencil clasp' d in 1, on asomewhat enlarged is a top plan View of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on line 4.--4 of objectA ofr thisinvention is to provide .Y

concealed by a floral-`design or the like; Fig.

` shown retainingr in clasped position a mecha- Fig. 5 isa front sideelevation of another preferred form of my invention, particularlyadapted for'ladies uses for pens, pencils and the like; the clasp isshown ornamented and 6 is aside elevation of Fig. 5 as viewed fromv therear sidegand showing a modified form of the projection forrespectively`engaging the pens or pencils or the like; and Fig. 7 is a top plan Viewof Figs. 5 and 6;

. v Fig. 8 is a side elevation'of another preferred form ofmy invention;Fig. 9 is a sectionalV elevation on line 9 9' of Fig. 8; and Fig.` 10visa view 'on sectional line 10i-10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a sideelevation of another modiiication of my" invention,`vpartly broken away; and Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation on line12-.12 of'Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a further modification of myI invention;and Fig.v 14 a. sectional elevation on line 141-14 of Fig.

F i915 is a side elevation of an additional modification of my'invention; and Fig. 16`is a sectional elevation on line 16-16 of Fig.'15; and Fig. 17 is a side elevation, partly broken away showing anotheryform of my invention.

a pocket 11 such as an upper pocket of a vest 12 or like. garment. Thevclasp 10v is nical pencil 13, apen-14 and an ordinary lead pencil 15,each independently of the other in respect to insertion. retention andremoval, and irrespective of the diameters or thicknessesf'th'earticles, asappears more 95 fully hereinafter. Siichiform ofinvention comprisesgenerally the oppositelyzdisposed 'members 16.

17 preferably of rubber 'composition and molded tohavethe formationproviding for the flaredV upper opening 10a, see Fig. l for'facilitating the entry of the' articles to be retained bv my clasp.-

The clasp 10, in the. form illustrated in figures, isretained'automaticallyx in po- Within the vest pocket 1l: el?? the likeindicated in Fig. 1 by the compression ofthe'spring portions 20, 21 ascompared with their expanded positions a, 21a, as indicated in Fig. 2.The bottom or central portion 23 of the spring corresponds to thedesired vexl tent of insertion of the clasp 10 within the pocket 11, thebottom portion 23 attaining the bot-tom of the material 22 of theVpocket. l 11.

It will be understood that the outer faces of the front member 16 andrear member 17 of the clasp 10 coacts with the lateral,

bowed portions 20, 21 of the spring to retain the clasp 1t) within thepocket` In the form fof myinvention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive,t-lie oppositely disposed members 16, 17 may be substantially parallelto one anotherbelow their flared ,opening portion 10a, and such parallelportions are spaced from one` another to an extent as may be desired.Vithin the spacing between said members 16, 17 I provide the oppositelydirected projections `24, 25, pret e'rably ,molded of the material ofthe mem be inserted in my clasp.

bers 16, 17, which projections 24', 25 may be semi-spherical or of likecurved contour, see Fig. 1, and also providing for the corresponding'depressions 26 on the outer faces of lthe respective members 16, 17. Inthis form of my invention, the projections 24, are disposed insubstantial alignment with one another, asappears 'in Figs. 3 and'4.

. Such vform of my invention also embodies the partition members 27,spaced from one another in correspondence to the diameter or dii'nensionof thickness of the articles to Such partition members 25 are preferablyof the same material as that of the members 16, 17 and mold- 'edintegrally 'therewith and of proper dimensions and shap`e.

Upon inserting an article such as a. inechanical pencil 18 within thereceptacle-like space, as for example, the second space from the left asindicated in F ig. 1, bounded on opposite sides by the first and secondpartition members 27, the oppositely disposed projections 24. 25 arecompressed to asutiicient extent to Afirmly graspl the pencil 13.

Accompanyingr such action, the first and Second Partition members v27serve to 'resiliently limit the extent Aof `compression of theprojecting; members 24` 25 and of the displacement of the members 16, 17coniprised within the second receptacle-like Vspace into which thepencil 13 is inserted.

le will assume now that the pen 14 as indicated in F ig. 1 is ofenlarged diameter as compared with the pencil 13; upon inserting the pen14 within the third receptacle-like space bounded by the second andthird retaining members 27, the compression ofits 'projecting members24, 25 is tov a greater extent but any 'undue displacement of themembers 16, 17 is restrained by the coaction of the second ,and thirdpartition members 27. The ordinary lead pencil 15 of greatly reduceddiameter or thickness as compared with the pen 14 may be inserted withinthe fourth receptacle-like space of my clasp 10,

giving rise in a similar manner to vthe compression of its oppositelydisposed projection portions 24, 25 but to less extent than that causedbythe pen 14. The third partition member 27 dividing the third andfourth receptacle--like spacessimilaily serves to limit the extent ofdisplacement of the portions of the members 16, 17 comprised within thefourth receptacle-like space and.

to thereby firmly retain the pencil 15 therein. y

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the clasp 28 isespecially adapted for ladies7 uses, as on a waist, bodice or the like.The front member 29 of ber 16 of the aforesaid clasp 10 'and therearward member 30 corresponds to the afore-V Y said member 17 For useon an outer garment. the clasp 28 is provided on its rear face with apin 31 in the nature of a safety pin or equivalent. The body portion 32of the pin 31 is preferably molded within the material of, the rearwardmember 30. On the outer face of the front memberY 29 may be provided thespring or catch 33 for retaining' a design 34 for concealing` the claspp 28 such as an artificial flower or like bouduet, or badge or the likeapplicable for office use. department stores and the like. .Tn the formof my clasp 28 as illustrated, there is provided three `receptacle-likespaces`r embodying oppositely disposed projecting members 24, 25,-andpartition members 27 corresponding,i generally to like parts ofmyembodimentshown in Figs. 1 to 4, which parts are designated by likereference num- --fbers In Fil.V 5 the project-ing` members 24 are shownof circular contour and in Finl 6 as of elongated contour. Thedepressions on the outer faces of the members .24, 25 may be provided ifdesired.

Figs 8, 9 and 19 illustratea modification of my invention and mayaccommodate a vmaximum of six articles, such as pens, pencils, cigarsand the like. yillustrate another form of removable attachment of myclasp within a garment pocket, or kthe pocket of a handbag. briefcase orsuitcase. as by suitable means, such as the adhesive strips 436, 37 onthe exterior These' figures alsor faces of the respectiveupper portions38, 39- of the oppositely disposed ymembers .40, 41 corresponding.generallynt'o the aforesaid members 16. 17 illustrated lin Figs. 1l to4, inclusive. Suchstrips3637 are of rubber containing materia-lwhiclilbecome plastic and adhesive under slightly elewatedxtemV 42, 43 of therespective members 40, 41,"`

which are individual from one another by the yprovision ofthe slots 44extending downwardly from` a suitable location45.

The protuberances 46, 47, which may be of' circular `formatiomprojectinwardly from .the respective depending portions42, 48 to provide thefrictional clasping'function for.

the articles insertedtherein. Tlierindependence of ryielding vof thedepending portions 42,43 ofthe receptacle-like spaces Vis had by theprovision of the slots'44. l y

Preferably, the oppositelyV disposed members 40A 41 are interconnectedas atlthe cen-,i

ter bythe partition member48 also of rubber' or` other resilientmaterial and preferably cast integrally with the oppositely disposedmembers 440. 4l.

In' Figs. 11 and 12, have illustra-tedl an-A other form of my invention,adaptedforthe.

reception of a watch or anxarticle of jewelry or the like, and alsoembodying aqsuitable number of receptacle-like spaces for pens.,pencils, cigars and the likell The left-hand portion 50 of this -form ofvmy invention corresponds generallyl to -th-eleftdiand por-` 'tion of myinvention 'shown in Illes.` 8` 9 and 10 and likejparts yaredesignated'by like reference numbers. that the prot-uberances 51v of thereceptacle? like spacesmaybe of elongated form, simi- -lar totheform-shown in Fig. 6L? Therighthand portion .52 as'l viewed. 1 in vFig,11 is y adapted toreceive a watch or like c ticle and the contour 5?; ofs'uch portion252 is shaped accordinefly. Such :pocketZ mayliave avclosed bottom 54 as indicatedfin Fig. 12 or the bottomv maybe o pen aspreferred. The

provisionof axsuitable number of protuberf ences 55 is provided withinthe pocket 52 for frictionally and resiliently engaging the outer .fac-e-of' the watch or like article to? retain the same; This form of my.vinvention' nmay y,also be supplied with oppositely disposed removableItl wil be 'observed t adhesive strips 36, 37 of Aadhesive material,similarly as hereinabove. l

i In Figs. v13 and 14 I have illustrated anotherV form of my invention,which is pai'- ticularly adapted for a hip pocket of a mans vtrousers orthe like for the reception and ietention of a bunch of keys, a `walletor like article. 'Such form of clasp comprises the oppositely disposedmembers 56,. 57 vwhich are molded to be brought into substantial contactat their inner faces at their portions below a suitable location58. Theupwardly ydisposed portions of thesmembers l56, 57 are Ipreferablyoutwardly flared as is indicated at 59, similarly as hereinabove, forfacilitatingl the entry of the bunch of keys, o r a wal-l let or ythelike. The lower portions of the members 56, 57 may be of less depth thanthe depth of the pocket to permit the bunch of keys to pass'between andybelowthe members 56,57 and into the lower portion of the pocket. Theremoval of the bunch of keysor like article is had by passing thefingers between the members 56,57 of my clasp, in which operationtliemembers 56, 57 are displaced from one another to permit .the fingers toextend therethrough to grasp the bunchof keys, c

This forni of my invention also illustrates he use of snap fasteners 60,6l, for releas- 'ably closing the members 56, 57. It will be notedthatthe curved formation of the members 56, 57 eects adenite tendency ofthe material of theimembersv 56, 57 to approach one vanother toveifectually seal'the pocket againstpilfering or other loss. vThe snapxfasteners 60,v 61 servetolock the members i Y 5G. -57 whenever desired.

rI`he form ofr'ny ,invention shown in Figs.

'15 andl,l corresponds generally to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4,inclusive; however, the seriesof protuberances 62, 63 of circular orother suitable contour on the oppositely disposed members 56, 57 projectin like directions and are arranged tov subst'antiallyv .register withone another. It will alsoA be noted that the membersf56, 57, are moldedcurvedlyabovefthe location 58 to providel vthe flared 'opening at thetop and Aalso to effect the,,automaticyfapproach to one another coactingwith their `lower portions which are n molded Vin normally cloreproximity.

In 17, Ifhave illustrated the clasp comprisingthe oppositely disposedmeinbers 16, 17,V similar tothei'nembers 16, 17

of 1 to. 4, inclusive; the protuberances 63 on the-'inner `face of themember 16 being displaced relative'to the `protuberances64 on tlie'innerface of the member 17, to forni a staggered relation. therewith,vthereby 'per 1 mitting a. pen, pencil or the like to bein sertedibetween any two `protuberances 63, 64and be engaged by such twoprotuberances 63,64 in theirV claspingnfunction.

A. dividing or partition member 48 of t) 'il upper portions of saidmembers being fiared lil rubber molded integrally with the members 16,17, similar to that of Figs. 8, 9 and 10, may be placed centrally withinthe receptacle-like spaces between the members 16, 17 of Fig. 17.

If desired, the respective forms of my clasp may be removably positionedin a garment pocket or other suitable location by means of one or moreclips see Fig. 8, one end of which is anchored by molding or otherwisesecured tothe members 40, 41, at their upper portions, the outer end 66of each clip being preferably sharpened to be pushed into the cloth ofthe pocket as at the upper edge of the pocket and to be held thereby.

If desired, the spring shown in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4.may be attached Aat its upper free ends to the members '16. 17 at theirintersections similarly as illustrated in these figures, kbut the `bodyof the portions 20, 2 1 may be exterior of the members 16, 17 below theaforesaid points of attachment. The clip ends 66 may also be provided,as in Fig. 8.

`Whereas, I have described my invention by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe `made without ldeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1.' A clasp for pens, pencils and the like comprising oppositelyarranged members receptacle-like spaces therebetween, the

outwardly from one another and a plurality of projecting membersextending within said `receptacle-like spaces for engagement withv thearticles inserted therein.- f

2. A clasp for pens, pencils and the like comprising oppositely arrangedmembersV disposed relative to one another to provide receptacle-likespaces therebetween, the upper portions of said members being flaredoutwardly from one another, partition members extending between saidoppositely disvposed members Yfor V dividing the receptaclelike spacesand a plurality of projecting members extending within saidreceptaclelike spaces for engagement with the articles inserted therein.Y

k3. A clasp for pens, pencils and the like comprising oppositelyarranged vmembers of resilient material and disposed relative to oneanother to provide receptacle-like spaces therebetween, the upperportions of said members being flared outwardly from one another and aplurality of projectingr members extending withinsaid receptacle-likespaces for engagement with the articles inserted therein. f

- 4. A clasp for pens, pencils and the like comprising oppositelydisposed members of resilient material yand arrangedfre'lative to withinsaid receptacle-like spaces-for engagement with the articles insertedtherein.

5. Aclasp for pens, pencils orlike articles comprising .oppositelyarranged members disposed relativeto one another'to providereceptacle-like spaces therebetween, means secured to and projectingfrom the inner faces of said members for engaging vthe respectivearticles inserted within such receptacle-like spaces and a. springhaving its end secured to said members, said spring extending laterallyof said members to frictionally engage the garment pocket in which theclasp is inserted.

6. YA clasp for pens, pencils or like articles comprisingv oppositelyarranged members disposed relative toene another `to providereceptacle-like .spaces therebetween, means secured toand projectingfrom the `inner faces of said members for engaging the respectivearticles inserted within-'such receptacle-like spaces and a springhaving its end secured to said members, said spring extending laterallyof said members to fricti-onally engage .the garment pocket in which theclasp is inserted', said spring further having a portion arranged t0engage the bottom ofthe garment pocket. d

7. A clasp forV pens, pencils or like articles comprising oppositelyarrangedk members disposed relative to one another t-o pro- Y videreceptacle-like spaces therebetween,

. means secured to and projecting from the inner lfaces of saidmembers'for engaging the respective articles inserted withinsuch-receptacle-like spaces and a spring having its opposite endsVsecured' to said members, said spring extending laterally of saidmembers to frictionally engage the garment pocket in which the clasp isinserted.

8. A clasp for pens, .pencils and thelike comprising oppositely.disposed members arranged relative to one another .to lprovide re-yceptacle-like spaces therebetween, a plurality of spaced members ofresilient material extending between said oppositely disposed' membersfor dividing l.the receptacle-like` spaces, said oppositely disposedmembers for other portions thereof disposedfbelow said partition membersbeing provided with slots and resilient means integral with-andprojecting from lsaid oppositely disposed mem-V bers respectively towardone another for engagement with the articles inserted in saidireceptaclelike spaces.

9.1`A clasp for pens, pencilsyand-the llike comprising oppositelydisposed .members arranged relative to onefanther tov provide relul)ceptacle-like spaces therebetween, the upper portions of said membersbeing fiared out- Wardly from one another, a plurality of spaced membersof resilient material eX- tending between said oppositely disposedmembers 'for dividing` the receptacle-like spaces`r said oppositeiyydisposed members for other portions thereof disposed belovv7 saidpartition members being provided With slots and resilientV meansintegral With 10 and projecting from said oppositely disposed membersrespectively toward one another ifor engagement With the articlesinserted in said receptacle-like spaces.

In testimony whereof I have signed this 15 speciicationthis 16th day or'April 1925.

JOHN A. EWEN.V

